We head back to the Embankment, Tallaght, Co.Dublin 1976 for today’s Song of the Day, a great horse-racing classic – ‘Plains of Kildare‘. It’s performed by Andy Irvine, Paul Brady and Dónal Lunny. Watch it above.
When this was broadcast in 1976, Planxty‘s band members had parted ways – they would reform again in in 1978 and a third time in 2003. Prior to the broadcast Irvine and Brady released their self-titled album which is still widely recognised as one of the classic Irish albums of all time. It was produced by Lunny and recorded at Rockfield Studios in Wales and featured Kevin Burke on fiddle.
There was a series of concerts televised at the Embankment around this time, Irish music had become an international force and to showcase this, RTÉ selected some of the best including the Bothy Band, De Dannan (with Johnny Moynihan), Clannad, Aileach, the Sands Family and of course Andy Irvine & Paul Brady.